Pneumatic wheel

ABSTRACT

351,803. Pneumatic tyres. MUSSELMAN, A. J., 2505, Whitelaw Avenue, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, U.S.A. Aug. 15, 1930, No. 24497. Convention date, Oct. 4, 1929. [Classes 144 (i) and 144 (ii).] Pneumatic tyres of the kind adapted to be mounted directly on a hub barrel, and particularly for use on the landing-wheels of aircraft, are built up from one or more plies 28 of rubbered cord material, the edges of the flat band thus produced being contracted by means of rings 34, and the structure then shaped to tyre form on a spherical air-bag. Other reinforcing bead-cores, such as 39, may be fitted on either side of the rings 34. The latter may have interlocking ends which may also be pinned together. The tyre is clamped between flanged collars 52 keyed on the hub-barrel 53 and secured by nuts 56, 57. The tyre beads and the flanges 54 of the collars 52 are formed with interengaging ribs 48, 49 respectively. Specification 336,715, [Class 144 (ii), Wheel tyres, Pneumatic &amp;c.], is referred to.

P 13, 1932- A. J.\MUSSELMAN 1,877,360

PNEUMATIC WHEEL Original Filed Oct. 4, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 '33 27 H,5 Aiuip J Mussclmdrl.

Sept. 13, 1932.

A. J. MUSSELMAN PNEUMATIC WHEEL Original Filed Oct. 4, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 s z u o n 7 M a W h c m t m d a m 1 n 9 6 .l 5 s M 7 6 a 4 5 5 5 n n 4 n v Q mm 6 v 3 3 1.. 3. in HI a" M 5 u Z M 3 n w A n m 7 A; u i 3 F. 55 n n O 3 Sheets-Sheet dttouwga A. J. MUSSELMAN PNEUMATIC WHEEL Original Filed Oct. 4, 1929 Sept. 13, 1932.

A [Um J. Musse [m an Patented Sept. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALVIN J. MUSSELMAN, OF C'UYAHOGA. FALLS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOODYEAR TIRE &.RUBIBER COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO PNEUMATIC WHEEL Original application filed October 4, 1929, Serial No. 397,392. Divided and this application filed February 10, 1931. Serial No. 514,746.

This invention relates to pneumatic balloon tires, and it has particular relation to the so-called fiat-built type of tire, similar to that disclosed in either of my copending applications Serial Nos. 203,107 and 27 9,985,

filed July 2, 1927 and May 23, 1928, respectively, which is adapted to serve as a substantially maximum portion of an entire assembly of atire. wheel. Also, the invention relates to methods of making tires of the type designated.

This application is .a division of application Serial N 0. 397,392, filed October 4, 1929.

One object of the invention is to provide a tire wheel including a pneumatic tire having a much greater capacity for air under relatively low pressure, than'ordinary balloon tires of equal maximum diameter.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a tire wheel including a pneumatic tire which can 'be manufactured at materially less cost than previously known tiresof equal maximum diameter.

Balloon tires of the type generally employed are built either by shaping strips of fabric about a toroidal core and stitching together the requisite number of elements of tire building'material thereon, or by building a laminated cylindrical band which is L subsequently shaped and vulcanized according to the final shape of the tire. In constructing the flat-built tires of the type previously known, the central portion of the cylindrical band was bulged radially outwardly while the edge or bead portions which were inextensible were moved axially toward each other.

The difference between the outer circumference and inner circumference of tires built according to either of these methods was considerably restricted because of the limited extent to which the flat-built tire could be radially bulged and the various limitations imposed upon the'relation of the cross-sec- .tional area of collapsible tire building cores 'to their other dimensions." According to this invention, a-tire can bebuilt which has such a small inner'circumference that spokes or disc wheels are not re-- ac quired, and the tire can be mounted directly upon a supporting hub barrel to form a tire ed to be incorporated in the landing gear of aircraft, although it is applicable to various other types of vehicles.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may now be had to the accompanylng drawings, forming apart of the specification, of which;

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a tire wheel e'mbod ing the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a tire wheel shown by Figure 1;-

Figures 3 and 4 are fragmentary plan views of rubberized fabric material employed in constructing the tire carcass;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a cylindrical mandrel upon which a fabric band is formed according to the invention; I

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a band shaped upon a spherical airbag;

Figure 7 is an elevational view of one form of bead ring for a tire;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View, on a larger scale, of a tire and hub bar'- rel upon which it is mounted;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side-elevational view of a bead portion of the tire;

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of a tire illustrating the method of applying beads thereto;

. Figure 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating another method of applying beads;

Figure 12 is a diagrammatical fragmentary cross-sectional View of a laminated band of rubberized fabric which has been prepared for shaping; i

' Figure 13 is an elevational view of a'bead Figure 14 is a plan view with respect to Figure 13, of the bead ring; and Figure 15 is a fragmentarydiagrammati- 081 view of "a construction similar to that shown by-Figuresll) andill. In-the preferred, form-of the invention,

i, d 25, respectively,

er. Theband is completed by securing the extremities in overlapping and interfitting relation, as indicated at 32, and by applying ressure thereto with a roller or other suitable tool. After the band 28 has been removed from the drum 27 it is slit at the low relatively looped portions thereof to form bead elesmall openings 33, through which ments in the form of gathering or shirring rings 34 are inserted into the loops. The looped edges are then gathered or shirred about the relatively small circumference of the rings 34, while the outer central circumference of the band remains substantially unchanged.

Either before or after the gathering rings 34 have been inserted into the loops, or after one of the rings has been so inserted, a substantially spherical airbag 36 having a -valve stem 37 therein is inserted within the-band 28. The airbag is'inflated while both rings 34 of the band are disposed within the loops, and the valve stem projects through one of the rings. The airbag is inflated until its surface is very firm and shapes the band to the form shown by Figure 6. Then the-inflating fluid is exhausted until'theairbag is inflated at a relatively low pressure.

Bead rings 38 comprising a bead core 39 and anchoring strips 42 are applied upon each edge portion of the band adjacent the gathering rings 34. The outer strips 42 hasa portion 43 which is secured to the inside of the band, as indicated at the right hand side of Figure 6. Since the airbag at this stage of the construction is inflated at a relatively facil tate application of the described. A rubber tread44 comprising annular discs 45 is applied to sides of the band in such manner that the discs overlap at their outer edges along a line 40 and extend along the side walls of the tire carcass to the bead rtions 34 and 38. After vulcanization the discs 45 arev of course integral instead of being divided along the line 40. Additional layers of rubber may be added to thicken the ground engaging portion of the tread. After portion 43, as

the tread has been applied, the spherical airbag 36 is removed and an annular airbag is inserted therein which corresponds in shape and size to theinner tube 46, shown in Figure 8. In this form the whole assembly is placed 34 remains in tire is completed in the ressure, it can be bulged inwardly totrip into a mold for the purpose of vulcanization.

After the airbag has been inflated, the assembly is vulcanized in a conventional manner a to form a tire 47.

A plura-lit of radial recesses and ribs 48 are formed a 47 and corres 0nd to'similar recesses and ribs 49 forme upon annular rings, 52 that are secured upon a hub barrel 53. Substantially radial flanges 54 extend outwardly from the rings 52. These rings are maintained upon the hub barrel'by means of an annular shoulder 54 and nuts 56, and dowel pins 57 prevent the rings barrel. A suitable axle 58 rotatably supports a hub barrel 53 and is provided with nuts 59 to maintain the hub barrel in its proper o )erative position. vThe axle forms a part 0 an aircraft landing gear 60. When the tire is mounted upon the hub barrel, the recesses and ribs 48 and 49 interfit in such manner as to provide a firm connection between the tire beads and the hub.

In the form of the-invention shown by Figure 10, the rings 34 are removed and inextensible beads '62 are inserted within the loops 29. In this construction the extremities-63 of the band do not overlap, and they can be disengaged and turned outwardly, as shown at the right hand side of Figure 10 to permit insertion of the beads 62., Then the extremities are pressed back to the position shown at the left hand side of Figure 10. The other tire building operations for completing the tire are the same as those described above.

Referring to Figure 11, the gathering ring 7 the loops 29, while the inextensible bead rings 62 are applied to the inner portion of the band adjacent the rings 34. An'anchoring'strip 64 extending about the edge of the band upon both the inner and outer sides thereof maintains the beads in from rotatingupon the hub out the bead portions of the tire proper relation. After these operations, the

same manner as that described above.

As best shown by Figure 15 the anchoring .64 serves to prevent ply tension from being disturbed and is applied circumferentially about the airbag 36. In this construction, the strip 64 is composed of rubberized fabric having adhesive surfaces which adhere to the airbag on the one side and to the bands 28 on the other or outer side. Thus when the extremities 63 are disengaged to permit withdrawal of the temporary head 34 and the insertion of the permanent endless bead ring 62,

the portions of the plies 28 adjacent the loops 29 are held firmly against the airbag by the band 64. If desirable, the band 64 may then be removed or it may be slit circumferentially along a line 80 and the edges adjacent the slit stitched to the contiguous portions of the bead loops 29 to become a permanent portion of the tire.

According to Figures 5 and 12, a plurality of bands 28 can be constructed separately in the manner described above with reference to Figure 5, and subsequently arranged in telescoping relation, as shown by Figure 12. Also, one of the bands can be shaped and subsequently a second band inserted therein, which is then inflated by employing the airbag 36 or the like. The looped edge portions 29 are shirred or gathered about the rings 34 or drawn by means of flexible tensile members in shirred relation about the central support or hub barrel. Thus the tire is composed of as many plies as necessary for any strength or size of tire wheel, and a plurality of tensile gathering members 34.- or 70 are employed in addition to the beads 38 or 62.

On the other hand, if desirable, the telescoping double band construction can be employed in tire wheels similar to those disclosed in the copending applications mentioned above. By

experiment it has been found that more than one gathering ring at each side of the tire adapt themselves in perfectly fitting relation in a tire Wheel assembly after separate bands 28 have been formed and subsequently telescoped in the manner described.

As best shown by Figures 13 and 14:,the ring 34 is provided with overlapping ends and 76 having interfitting teeth 77 which are interlocked when the ring is in its normal position. Preferably the ring is composed of resilient metal and the ends 75 and 77 are sprung apart, as shown by the broken lines of Figure 14, in order to receive the loops 29" which are gathered thereon. If desirable a suitable pin 78 can be inserted through the ends 75 and 76 to insure proper connection of the latter in addition to the interlocking teeth 77.

Fromthe foregoing description, it will be apparent that the pneumatic tire 47 and the hub barrel constitute a tire wheel without a wheel disc or spokes, and in which the rub- Although only the preferred forms of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited,

but that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A pneumatic balloon tire wheel comprising an axle, a hub-barrel journaled thereon and equipped with retaining flanges, and a balloon tire mounted directly on said hubbarrel and secured to said retaining flanges, said tire including an endless fabric band having looped edges shirred to form small annuli, gathering rings insaid loops, inextensible beads secured to said structure at into small annuli, the fabric surrounding the annuli being condensed and lying substantlally in curved planes, normally inextensible bead rings applied to said structure at said annuli, and annular rubber discs applied to the sides of the band, the inner and outer edge portions of the discs engaging the bead porti ons and central tread portion respectively of the tire, the whole structure being vulcanized together and the portions of the structure comprising beads and annuli being shaped to afford a tire base adapted to engage exterior retaining rings.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

Signed at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, U. S. A., this 7th day of February, 1931.

ALVIN J. 'MUSSELMAN. 

